This Website is part of a multinational effort in Michigan, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Ontario and Quebec to bring you the latest information about emerald ash borer.

Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees
June 2014 - Second Edition

Many homeowners, arborists and tree care professionals want to protect valuable ash trees from EAB. Scientists have learned much about this insect and methods to protect ash trees since 2002. This bulletin is designed to answer frequently asked questions and provide the most current information on insecticide options for controlling EAB. Learn more »

Select a state/province for more information about their EAB programs.

Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Emerald ash borer is also established in Windsor, Ontario, was found in Ohio in 2003, northern Indiana in 2004, northern Illinois and Maryland in 2006, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2007, Wisconsin, Missouri and Virginia in the summer of 2008, Minnesota, New York, Kentucky in the spring of 2009, Iowa in the spring of 2010, Tennessee in the summer of 2010, Connecticut, Kansas, and Massachusetts in the summer of 2012, New Hampshire in the spring of 2013, North Carolina and Georgia in the summer of 2013, Colorado in the fall of 2013, and New Jersey in the spring of 2014. Since its discovery, EAB has:

• Killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Quebec, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
• Caused regulatory agencies and the USDA to enforce quarantines (Michigan, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Quebec) and fines to prevent potentially infested ash trees, logs or hardwood firewood from moving out of areas where EAB occurs.
• Cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars.

EAB DETECTED IN NEW JERSEY

May 21, 2014

New Jersey Department of Agriculture today confirmed that the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees, has been found in Somerset County by a landscaper investigating unhealthy trees in a Bridgewater retail area last week. Inspectors sent insect larvae samples to the USDA where the specimens were confirmed.

For the past four years the Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection (NJDA and DEP) have participated in an Emerald ash borer survey but no beetles were found in more than 300 traps set up around the state. Emerald ash borer had already been detected in Pennsylvania and New York bordering New Jersey. "We will be informing homeowners about the actions they can take to protect their ash trees from this tree-killing insect," said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher.

EAB is now present in 23 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. It was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 and has since killed tens of millions of trees. "Since the emerald ash borer has been active just over our borders for quite a number of years, we expected that it would be found in New Jersey eventually,” said State Forester Lynn E. Fleming. "The DEP will work with the Department of Agriculture and other appropriate agencies to educate landowners on how to identify this invasive beetle and mitigate infestations."

The state will now survey trees in the area surrounding the initial find to determine the extent of the EAB infestation. It is expected that a federal quarantine will be expanded to include New Jersey.

Steps you can take:

1. Report signs of the beetle to the Department of Agriculture at 609-406-6939. The adult EAB is a metallic green insect about one-half inch long and one-eighth inch wide making it hard to detect in the wild. The female beetles lay eggs on the bark of ash trees. The eggs hatch and the larvae bore into the bark to the fluid-conducting vessels. The larvae feed and develop, cutting off the flow of nutrients and, eventually killing the tree. EAB attacks and kills North American true ash, and tree death occurs three to five years following initial infestation. EAB is native to Asia.
2. Homeowners can protect ash trees they own. Treatment products are available at retail and licensed pesticide applicators can treat for EAB. Signs of EAB include: canopy dieback beginning at the top of the tree and progressing through the year until the tree is bare; sprouts growing from the roots and trunk; split bark with an S-shape gallery; D-shaped exit holes; and more woodpecker activity, creating large holes as they extract the larvae.
3. To prevent spread of the beetle, do not move firewood. Firewood is a vehicle for movement of tree-killing forest pests including EAB and Asian longhorned beetle. Use locally-sourced firewood when burning it at home. When traveling, burn firewood where you buy it. Make sure to burn all wood purchased.

New Strategy Being Developed to Deal With Emerald Ash Borer

• Research is being conducted at universities, as well, to understand the beetle's life cycle and find ways to detect new infestations, control EAB adults and larvae, and contain the infestation.
• Quarantines are in place to prevent infested ash firewood, logs or nursery trees from being transported and starting new infestations.

This Website provides information from Michigan State University, Purdue University, the Ohio State University, the Michigan and Ohio departments of Agriculture; the Michigan, Indiana and Ohio departments of Natural Resources; the USDA Forest Service; the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Our goal is to help you find answers to your questions about EAB. We also provide links to other EAB-related Websites. Please check this site often because information changes frequently.

What to know about EAB:

• It attacks only ash trees (Fraxinus spp.).
• Adult Beetles are metallic green and about 1/2-inch long.
• Adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark when they emerge in spring.
• Woodpeckers like EAB larvae; heavy woodpecker damage on ash trees may be a sign of infestation.
• Firewood cannot be moved in many areas of Michigan, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin because of the EAB quarantine.
• It probably came from Asia in wood packing material.

If you suspect you may have EAB in your ash trees, call these numbers:

• Michigan — 1-800-292-3939
• Colorado — Colorado Dept. of Agriculture at 888-248-5535, or email CAPS.program@state.co.us.
• Connecticut — The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station at 1-203-974-8474 or email CAES.StateEntomologist@ct.gov
• Georgia — Contact your county Extension office or email to Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at: bugwood@uga.edu
• Illinois — Contact your county Extension office. The Illinois Department of Agriculture also offers a toll-free hotline at 1-800-641-3934 for extension-confirmed infestations
• Indiana — 1-866-NO-EXOTIC
• Iowa — 1-515-294-5963
• Kansas — 1-785-862-2180
• Kentucky — 1-859-257-5838
• Maryland — University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center — 1-800-342-2507 or the Maryland Department of Agriculture — 1-410-841-5920
• Massachusetts — The National EAB Hotline at 1-866-322-4512
• Minnesota — 1-888-545-6684 (Arrest-the-Pest Hotline)
• Missouri — 1-866-716-9974
• Nebraska — The National EAB Hotline at 1-866-322-4512
• New Hampshire — Report suspect trees and submit photos of damage to www.nhbugs.org or call 1-800-444-8978.
• New Jersey — New Jersey Dept. of Agriculture at 1-609-406-6939
• New York — 1-866-640-0652
• North Carolina — 1-800-206-9333 or newpest@ncagr.gov
• North Dakota — North Dakota Forest Service in Fargo at 701-231-5138 and North Dakota Department of Agriculture in Fargo at 701-239-7295 or Bismarck at 701-328-4765
• Ohio — 1-888-OHIO-EAB
• Pennsylvania — 1-866-253-7189
• Tennessee — 1-800-628-2631
• Texas — The National EAB Hotline at 1-866-322-4512
• Virginia — The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Plant Industry Services at 1-804-786-3515
• West Virginia — 1-304-254-2941
• Wisconsin — 1-800-462-2803
• USDA APHIS — The National EAB Hotline at 1-866-322-4512
• Canada — 1-866-463-6017

Scientists are studying methods of controlling EAB. The latest information on insecticide evaluations can help homeowners, arborists and landscapers decide if and how they can treat trees for EAB.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since the emerald ash borer's discovery in 2002, research has been ongoing to develop tools to control and eliminate this pest. Currently, there are a number of treatments available for use by homeowners or tree care professionals that can provide a varying degree of beetle control. A review of all options is recommended, as well as knowing the regulations regarding EAB quarantines and eradication strategies for your area. Contact your state department of agriculture for more EAB regulatory information. As more methods of EAB control are developed, more information will be available. References to commercial products or trade names do not imply endorsement by the entities supplying the information, or bias against those not mentioned. Reprinting of any material on this site cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product or company.